Newly diagnosed
Being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease can be overwhelming. It's important to know you're not alone and you can take steps to improve your diagnosis.
You may feel shocked, scared, or even confused. It’s important to remember that 1 in 10 Australian adults have kidney disease so you're not alone and we're here to help you navigate this journey. With our support and information, you can achieve a better quality of life with kidney disease.
The stages of kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease is usually progressive and occurs in stages. That means that, depending on when you’re diagnosed, you can usually slow down or even halt the progression of your disease.
Next steps after diagnosis
Your health practitioner should discuss with you the things you can do to help slow or minimise the damage to your kidneys. These include:
- continuing to get your kidneys checked, by organising regular kidney checks with your GP
- taking any medications your doctor prescribes you. Some medications such as some blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes tablets also help to protect the kidneys
- decreasing your risk factors for kidney disease (this can include quitting smoking, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, exercising, and drinking more water)
- talking to your health care team to find out the best treatment options and pathways for you.
While there’s unlikely to be a single cure for kidney disease, there is ongoing research and innovation working towards this. In the meantime, it’s important to follow your healthcare professional’s advice and work towards slowing down or minimising the damage to your kidneys.
Helpful resources
As well as your doctor and healthcare professionals helping you, there are ways you can educate yourself to keep improving your kidney health.
Our My Kidneys My Health handbook is free and available online. It’s designed specifically for people who have been recently diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, to provide support and helpful information.
It’s valuable to familiarise yourself with:
- ways to keep your kidneys healthy through diet and nutrition advice
- services available to you, including our Kidney Buddy program and private Facebook groups for peer-support
- booklets, factsheets, and other resources available for download or purchase
You may also wish to reach out to us for support on the Kidney Helpline, freecall 1800 454 363.
